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II there were only one mixing job to do, only one impeller would be required. However,
there is a very wide range oI problems in agitation, and the best impeller Ior one application
may not be the best impeller Ior another. The descriptions and discussions below are
intended as a guide Ior impeller selection. Relative impeller sizes are compared to the P4 at
equal horsepower and equal speed. For a more thorough application evaluation, contact
your nearest Chemineer sales oIIice .
RL-3 Impeller

Size relative to P-4 1.1

Favorable Applications:
The Chemineer RL-3 impeller is designed Ior applications where a ragless agitator is
desired to prevent Iibrous material build-up on the rotating impeller. Typical in Waste
Treatment applications the RL-3 is a rag shedding impeller which prevents build-up oI
Iibrous materials on the impeller, while providing a strong axial Ilow Ior eIIicient blending
and solids suspension.p~
XE-3 Impeller

Size relative to P-4 1.32

Favorable Applications:
The highest eIIiciency turbulent Ilow impeller available in the marketplace. Ideal Ior
blending, heat transIer, and solids suspension applications. Developed to maximize strength
at lower weights as compared to other axial Ilow impellers, allowing Ior longer shaIts
without internal support, smaller shaIt diameters, and smaller seal sizes iI applicable.
E-3 Impeller

Size relative to P-4 1.3

Favorable Applications:
An extremely eIIicient turbulent Ilow impeller Ior blending, heat transIer and solids
suspension. Most eIIective Ior Reynolds numbers over 50. Developed to minimize the
creation oI trailing vortices and incorporating the otherwise wasted energy into macro-Ilow.
SC-3 Impeller

Size relative to P-4 1.2

Favorable Applications:
The Chemineer SC-3 Impeller Ieatures an advanced design engineered Ior deep tanks. It
produces Ilow characteristics oI much larger impellers, without the added weight, or the
resulting loss in pumping eIIiciency. The highly eIIicient SC-3 Impeller's reduced weight
allows Ior the use oI longer shaIt extensions Ior deeper tanks, and resolves associated
critical speed limitations. The use oI an SC-3 impeller can produce an overall agitator cost
savings as much as 33.
P-4 or Pitched Blade Impeller

Size relative to P-4 1.0

Favorable Applications:
A reasonably cost eIIective impeller in both turbulent and laminar Ilow. Good impeller Ior
applications where the viscosity changes over a wide range causing the Ilow regime to vary
between turbulent and laminar Ilow. A reasonably cost eIIective impeller Ior solids
suspension.
S-4 or Straight Blade Impeller

Size relative to P-4 0.84

Favorable Applications:
A cost eIIective impeller Ior operation very near the Iloor oI a tank Ior agitating the heel in
solids suspension applications. Also an eIIective impeller in laminar Ilow applications,
especially when impeller Reynolds numbers drop below 50.
BT-6 Impeller

Size relative to P-4 0.88

Favorable Applications:
Highest gas dispersing capability available. Can disperse nearly six times the gas handling
capability oI the D-6 or Rushton impeller. Unloads less than the CD-6. In Iact, the
unloading is nearly all due to the change in eIIective density oI the gassed liquid. The mass
transIer capability is on the order oI 10 better than the CD-6. Unlike many other gas
dispersing impellers, the BT-6 is relatively insensitive to viscosity.
CD-6 Impeller

Size relative to P-4 0.83

Favorable Applications:
The CD-6 impeller is a second generation gas and immiscible liquid dispersion impeller.
The CD-6 can handle about 2.4 times the maximum gas capacity oI the D-6 impeller. The
CD-6 is similar to the Smith impeller, but there are substantial power and dispersion
capability diIIerences. This impeller has been used at aeration numbers as high as 2.1.
D-6 or Rushton Impeller

Size relative to P-4 0.74

Favorable Applications:
Good cost eIIective impeller Ior low concentrations oI immiscible liquid or gas. Two very
strong trailing vortices are shed Irom each blade. These areas oI high shear are responsible
Ior breaking the larger droplets to smaller droplets. Maximum aeration numbers should be
limited to 0.1.
Maxflo W Impeller

Size relative to P-4 1.1

Favorable Applications:
The MaxIlo W impeller, with about 10 more eIIectiveness in pumping eIIiciency, is an
improved version and Iull replacement impeller Ior the MaxIlo T. Excellent in abrasive
solids suspension, solids suspension in the presence oI small amounts oI gas introduced or
generated in situ, and in boiling or near boiling applications.
Maxflo WSE

Favorable Applications:
A high eIIiciency, advanced side-entering hydroIoil impeller that produces maximum
pumping action. It has more cavitation resistance than other designs through eIIective
hydrodynamic design.
Maxflo Mark II & III Impellers

Size relative to P-4 1.4

Favorable Applications:
High eIIiciency, high solidity impellers Ior use in turbulent side entering applications. They
are especially eIIective Ior Iluids possessing a yield value, such as paper stock. The high
solidity permits operation nearer the boiling point without cavitation.
1P-3 Impeller

Size relative to P-4 1.3

Favorable Applications:
A high eIIiciency turbulent Ilow impeller used on our smallest turbine agitators at direct
drive motor speeds on our DT, BTNS and RBTNS agitator lines. The high solidity permits
operation nearer the boiling point without cavitation.
Smoothline Impeller

Chemineer simpliIies double impeller conIigurations Ior sanitary mixing processes with its
patent-pending Smoothline impeller design. It is available Ior the HE-3, P-4, S-4 and
MaxIlo W impellers. Smoothline-style impellers disassemble to pass through manways on
process vessels. Their FDA-approved TeIlon gaskets between every joint prevent
entrapment oI process material. As an added beneIit, they are easily compatible with single
piece shaIts thus ensuring optimum straightness, eIIicient energy transmission and superior
mixing perIormance.
ChemShear Impeller

Size relative to P-4 1.1-1.3

Favorable Applications:
ChemShear Impellers are made in 4 diIIerent styles. Style 1 has the widest blades and style
4 the narrowest blades. Various processes require diIIerent ratios oI shear and pumping.
The wider blades pump more, and the narrower blades have the higher level oI shear. They
work well in applications which require moderately high shear but also some level oI
pumping. Many high shear devices are very low in pumping capability and require an
auxiliary impeller to provide turnover. ChemShear impellers oIten overcome the need Ior
an auxiliary pumping impeller. ChemShear impellers have been used in microencapsulation
processes producing particles in the 2 micron range.
Double elical Ribbon Impeller

Relative Impeller Size: On the order of 95 of the Tank Diameter

Favorable Applications:
Generally recognized as the best all around high viscosity, laminar Ilow impeller. It is the
most eIIicient blender oI all existing close clearance agitators. The double Ilight helical
ribbon impeller is also good Ior heat transIer and blending oI liquids and solids Irom the
surIace. Generally used Ior applications where viscosities are ordinarily greater than 30,000
MPa.
Single Flight elical Ribbon with Screw

Relative Impeller Size: On the order of 95 of the Tank Diameter

Favorable Applications:
A reasonably eIIicient high viscosity, laminar Ilow impeller. Blend times are about the
same to somewhat longer than the double Ilight helical ribbon impeller. The central screw
can eIIectively pull down solids and liquids Irom the surIace when the helical ribbon is
pumping up. Generally used Ior applications where viscosities are ordinarily greater than
30,000 MPa. Heat transIer coeIIicients are only slightly less than the double helical ribbon
impeller.
Anchor Impeller

Relative Impeller Size: On the order of 95 of the Tank Diameter

Favorable Applications:
The anchor impeller is the most economical laminar Ilow impeller. It is most eIIective in
squatty batches where vertical pumping is not as important as in tall batches. Blend times
are somewhat longer than helical ribbon type impellers. It is the easiest high viscosity
impeller onto which scrapers can be mounted Ior very diIIicult heat transIer applications.
Screw (Auger) Impeller

Relative Impeller Size: Typically about alf the Tank Diameter

Favorable Applications:
A screw impeller produces eIIective high viscosity blending oI shear sensitive polymers.
This impeller provides good top-to-bottom turnover. Although blending is generally good,
heat transIer is not as good as the close clearance high viscosity impellers. The screw
impeller is suitable Ior Iluids which are not too pseudoplastic with power law indexes less
than 0.5.